The spot was produced in the same vein as Apple’s “I’m a Mac” TV commercials, and presents the MyTouch 4G as a beautiful young woman. The iPhone 4G is presented as a youngish hipster-with-an-actual-but-not-too-formal-job, with AT&T as the proverbial monkey on his back in the form of a stodgy, balding, and overweight business suit.
The three engage in the following discussion:
Hot Chick: Hi, I’m a T-Mobile MyTouch 4G
iPhone 4 Dude: And I’m an iPhone 4
HC: Who’s your friend?
Dude: Oh, it’s the ol’ AT&T network (clearly straining from the load).
HC: (Unpleasant look marring her beautiful face) That’ll slow you down.
Dude: (Looks at camera, voice straining from the burden) That’s the price I pay for 3G speed.
HC: Bummer. 4G with T-Mobile lets me video chat practically anywhere.
AT&T Monkey: (Despondent, voice redolent with apathy) Well iPhone 4 can FaceTime video chat anywhere there’s WiFi…Like, say, an airport.
Dude: (Distinctly uncomfortable) You know, you suddenly seem heavier.
The purpose of the add appears to be to criticize AT&T, and the iPhone for being limited to AT&T in the U.S., though only AT&T is presented in a disparaging light. Indeed, the only bad thing said about the iPhone — that you can only video chat through WiFi — is said by the AT&T character, and not the iPhone or T-Mobile character.
We should also note that T-Mobile does have the first 4G network in the U.S., but that its coverage is somewhat limited. Nonetheless, FaceTime is limited to WiFi on Apple’s iPhone.
New T-Mobile Spot